Friends,
How are we doing? The last post I left you all on such a big update! If you’re new here, I decided to go all in on my triathlon dreams and pursue the route of becoming a professional athlete. And this girl has officially completed her first month of training and is back to tell the story of it all. This first month had so many highs and a few lows, but all in all, I can say with such confidence that I truly believe I have found my thing. I love triathlon training so much, and I feel like we’re just getting started!
The Chaos: Ankle Sprain
Of course, it wouldn’t be a recap without some form of chaos so let’s start there.
Just in my second week of training, I fell off my bike going around a roundabout. (I know, I need to work on this balance â but I’m happy to report that since then I have successfully cleared many roundabouts unscathed.) My right ankle hit the curb on the way down, and I ended up with what my physical therapist described as a “really bad ankle sprain.” The timing felt brutal. I had just started training, I was fired up and ready to go, and suddenly I was sidelined. I had a few days of complete rest, then was cleared to bike and swim but not allowed to run until the swelling went down.
During those days of rest, I felt so useless.
I think God has quite the sense of humor, because here I am deciding I want to pursue becoming a professional athlete, and boom â an injury in week two. But honestly? It turned out to be one of the best lessons of the month.
It reminded me that what I get to do every day is a privilege. I get to wake up, use my body, and train in a competitive way and I didn’t think twice about what a blessing that was until it was taken away. It also forced me to confront something I hadn’t fully realized until that moment: I am way too wrapped up in my identity as an athlete. When training was taken away, I felt isolated and confused. Who am I if I can’t perform? Would I still be liked and appreciated?
Training is where I have what I deem to be the most freedom to feel like my true self â so when that’s taken away, I don’t feel like myself. And that was a strange space to sit in while my ankle healed.
But I’m glad it happened. It forced me to sit with that feeling and realize that I am more than my performance. Without training, I am still Alexa. And if there’s ever a moment in the future where I can’t train the way I want to, I have this little life lesson tucked in my back pocket.
The Highlight: My First Triathlon Race
But nevertheless this first month of training also had it’s upsides! The best part of month one you may ask? I got to compete in my very first triathlon!
For anyone new here, a sprint triathlon is a 750m swim, 20km bike, and a 5k run â and three weeks after barely being able to walk, I was standing at the start line of one. I remember having this moment during the swim where I thought to myself:
wow, I’m actually doing this. I’m literally swimming in the ocean in my first race. It felt surreal.
One of my favorite parts wasn’t even the race itself, it was the people that came to support me. With a last-minute decision to sign up, my friends still showed up and cheered me on. Having them there made the whole experience feel so much sweeter.
When I crossed the finish line, my first thought was: Wow, that was so fun!
Which is such a different reaction from my running races! That contrast said everything to me. I think it’s the clearest sign yet that I’ve genuinely found my thing because why was a triathlon fun? It was hard. It was tiring. And yet, I loved every second of it.
Oh, and let’s not forget to mention â I came first in my age category! Absolutely wild. (Full transparency though: I was the only one in my age category, lol. A win is a win, right?!)
Working with a Coach
Having a coach has been a complete game changer â I truly don’t think I would be seeing the progress I am without him.
The ability to wake up, follow a plan, and just execute it has been everything. Before this, when I was following training plans on my own, it was so easy to skip a day or shuffle things around. But now, with that accountability, I haven’t missed a single session this month (aside from the ankle saga, of course.)
It sounds simple, but removing the decision-making from the equation has made such a difference. I just show up and do the work. And it’s also such a huge bonus that he’s local, so we get to do some sessions together and having him at my first race eased so much anxiety.
5K Time Trial & Swim Test
To wrap up the month, my coach put me through two fitness tests to give us measurable benchmarks to build from: a 5K time trial for the run, and a 400m all-out followed by rest and then a 200m all-out for the swim. Both were absolutely grueling.
The swim came in slower than I expected. I have a swimming background, and knowing what I used to be capable of, I hold myself to a pretty high standard. But I have to give myself some grace here. I’m comparing my current self to the version of me that swam six days a week and logged 15+ hours in the pool. That Alexa trained like that for years. Currently, I haven’t seriously trained in five or six years. I need to remember to be patient with myself, the fitness will come back. It’s just a matter of time. (Writing this deep into month two, I’ll give you a little preview: it did get better. She’s getting speedy in the water.)
As for the 5K, I ran 30:16. I honestly thought I’d go faster, but I went out way too hot. My first kilometre was 5:38, and after that I just fought to hold on. This revealed something I now know I need to work on: pacing. In both the swim and the run I flew out of the gate and spent the rest of the time surviving. Good pacing means building through a race, not just hanging on and with smarter pacing, I know I can be so much faster.
Why I Think This Dream Is Real
The verdict is in, friends: month one was incredible.
I believe in myself more than I did 30 days ago. With a race under my belt, a coach I trust, and a clearer picture of what I need to work on, I genuinely feel like this dream is unfolding. I told a friend recently that I am scared of myself right now but in the best possible way. I want this so badly, and I’m willing to run headfirst toward it. This level of obsession and discipline is something I didn’t think I could produce.
And if you’re reading this with a big, scary dream of your own sitting quietly in the back of your mind â I hope this is your nudge. Go after it. Do the hard things. I can’t wait to share where the next few weeks of training take us!
Much love,
Alexa
Want to follow my journey in real time? Head over to my Instagram, I’d love to have you!
